JD Vance's Pet-Eating Claims Attacked in Ohio Newspaper: 'Mortified'

JD Vance's controversial pet-eating claims have been attacked in an Ohio newspaper, which said that he had "mortified" and "embarrassed" the state.

An edition of The Columbus Dispatch included letters to the editor, one of which written by Pat Rhoades posed the question: "Was any other Ohioan in disbelief that our elected officials portrayed Ohio in such a ridiculous, racist way?"

Springfield, Ohio, has been dominating the headlines over the past week after claims were made that Haitian migrants have been killing pets and park birds and eating them.

These claims have been repeated by both former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance. In his first debate with Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday, which attracted in excess of 67 million viewers, Trump repeated the claim, saying: "In Springfield, they're eating the dogs—the people that came in. They're eating the cats."

Trump was fact checked live when he repeated the accusations, as city officials have debunked the rumors and police say there are "no credible reports" of the claims. Nevertheless, they have spread like wildfire online, leaving Haitian immigrants to consider leaving the city as backlash against immigrant communities has intensified.

Springfield Mayor Rob Rue, a Republican, condemned the rhetoric and told news outlet WSYX in an interview: "All these federal politicians that have negatively spun our city, they need to know they're hurting our city, and it was their words that did it."

And now, Ohio locals are speaking out against the false reports.

Rhoades went on to ask in the letter, "Do we really want a president and vice president who take such ideas seriously? Imagine how easily they can be played by the leaders they look up to. Can we really trust them with the fate of our country? Vote for people who don't fall for such fake news and have the best interest of we the people. Our country depends on it!"

Another letter, in the Dispatch, which previously touted Vance as "the worst vice-presidential candidate ever," echoed this sentiment. The letter, penned by Ben Freudenreich was titled: "While we focus on lie about Haitians eating dogs and cats, MAGA dismantles America." Freudenreich argued that this story is "the most recent outrage," that MAGA want people to talk about, and that the goal was to distract,

Freudenreich wrote, "MAGA people want us to focus on such things while they complete their assault on the American system of government."

"MAGA, supported by some obscenely rich people, wants its president to have the power to do anything he wants with no checks and balances from Congress or the judiciary, and it is close to succeeding."

Fraudenreich continued, writing: "For the election this November, concentrate on keeping the United States we have known and loved. If only this once, vote for the Democrats."

Newsweek has reached out to the Trump-Vance campaign via email for comment.

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